NRL peers ahead to see the game in 10 years' time

A reduction in the number of interchanges is set to be among the topics discussed when the NRL's competition committee considers what the game may look like in 10 years' time, but there will be no immediate change to the replacement rule at Tuesday's meeting.

The committee, which includes Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens and Darren Lockyer, will receive a detailed presentation on how the game has changed since 2004 and what changes may occur in the next decade, before looking at ways to improve the competition in 2015.

"Interchange won't change next year. But certainly we will start shaping some of our thoughts for the future": NRL head of football Todd Greenberg. Photo: Damian Bennett

However, much of the debate is expected to revolve around longer-term issues, with calls to reduce the number of interchanges from 10 to eight, and even six, expected to be considered at the two-day meeting.

"The competition committee historically has looked at issues in the game in its most immediate sense. But tomorrow's session is very much with a bigger horizon, looking at a 10-year view of the game and challenging the competition committee to think broadly about what we want the game to evolve into," NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said.

"Interchange won't change next year. But certainly we will start shaping some of our thoughts for the future because with the interchange it will lead to roster changes and all of that sort of thing, so you need to give people plenty of warning."

The competition committee meeting follows a gathering of all 16 NRL coaches on Monday for a review of the 2014 season.

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Among the issues discussed were:

* The new concussion rules;

* The performance of referees in 2014;

* Rule changes that saw more tries and the ball in play for longer than previous seasons;

* The clamping down on cannonball and lifting tackles;

* The possibility of a standardised time-keeping system for broadcasters, stadiums and coaches boxes.

It was the first time all 16 head coaches had attended the annual meeting, with South Sydney's Michael Maguire joining in via video conference from the Rabbitohs' high altitude camp in Arizona.

"This time last year we put a coaches' meeting on and eight of them turned up and eight sent assistants. So I wrote an email saying this is a head coaches' meeting, not a delegates meeting. So if you can't turn up or don't want to turn up, that is fine, but there are no replacements . . . so if you want to listen to what is going on, you need to be there," Greenberg said.

"It was pleasing that we had all 16 of them involved, all of the big guys were in the room and we had a really good discussion about a whole lot of things in the game. It was positive to see them all buy in, so I was pleased.

"We took them through a whole pile of stuff on the work we are doing with referees, the work we have done in 2014 on our rule changes and how that has impacted on certain parts of the game. So there were a lot of stats and a lot of analysis. I think they appreciated the opportunity to come together as a group and hear it all."